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'11 - A wonderful year it had been, a most memorable one of my life. There  are lot of events which I need to pen down. A year of most important learnings of my life.

The year started off with myriad interests in arts, music, long working outs in gym, sports, travel and a lot more... There were times when I was extremely low and good friends who always cheered me up like here and here.

I attended a lot of stage events: L Subramanian's Concerts, Kadri Gopalnath, Kailash Kher, Lalgudi Krishnan and ViswaMohan Bhatt. Shubendra and Saskia Rao, Sapta Sitar.

Indiblogger blogger meet at ISKCON and a fairwell bloggers meet at Infy, DanceJathre, Chitra Santhe, Ananya Bengaluru dance events, Gudi Sambhrama, Bengaluru Habba, volunteering at Ellu Bella celebrations.

A wedding photoshoot of a close friend in Mylapore, Chennai. Visiting Dakshina Chitra, Besant Nagar beach, masala dosa at Saravana Bhavan.

I always had a flair learning Veena, the most divine stringed instrument in South India. Having trained in carnatic music for 3 years while I was at school, I finally managed to find a Veena teacher in Feb. After attending a couple of classes, bought home a miniature Veena and a Tanjavur concert Veena on Mar 11.

Exhibiting my photographs at Infy along with fellow SLRBB photographers. Most awaited KR Market photoshoot-one of the most crowded market areas in Bangalore; a place where you name it and you find it. :)


Clicked the Supermoon in March. Saw Moon and rings surrounding Jupiter in April for the first time through a telescope at Infy campus and the same day completed 10 km cycling in 32 mins. yaay!


Then came the twist, wp to Ausland. Don't ask how excited I was andthe dilemma I had. The last visit to Commercial Street roaming around each and every galli until my knees ached. Sipped lemon tea at Transit for the last time in Bangalore.

First international flight to Melb. Landed here on my birthday, the best gift  I could get. :)

---In Melbourne---
This is the first time I am away from parents and home for such a long time. A great learning experience living with roomies, Cooking experiments and whole lot of responsibilities at work as well.

First ride in City Circle tram, then a train, ferry to Sorrento...left is helicopter ride..

My visit to Mt. Buller on the first weekend in Australia and holding the snow was an awesome experience which I cannot express in words. :) Lovely sun kissed beaches with the crystal clear waters, cool breeze blowing @ Wilsoms prom.

View of the city from the 88th floor of the tallest building Eureka in Southern hemisphere.

Posing with a sleepy koala in my arms at Gold Cost.

Dressed as a European Lady nineteenth century in Ballarat.

Bought myself a the famous German Cuckoo clock from Tamborine.


My passion for music drives me crazy and I managed to find a piccolo teacher. Why piccolo? It is easy to carry while travelling unlike Veena or a Sitar. The silvered coated piccolo comes in a cute pencil box case. Now I own it too!


The last week of the year is indeed a special one to me. I did so many activities which I had seen only the bravos on Discovery Channel and hero in the movie shot abroad. Yes, I did sky, scuba diving with a wide smile.. naah I wasn't afraid at all. Along with snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, bumber tube, river rafting, hot air ballooning.

June 5th 2011 - Jan 5th 2012. Seven months in Australia. In love with Melbourne. ;)  


A wonderful new year eve and fireworks in Melbourne. :)

© Manasa. All rights reserved.

Flights of Fantasy

Awesome violin by Ganesh and Kumaresh.

Raag Mand

Noted Veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh playing Raag Mand of Hindustaani music. One of my favourite composition. :)

© Manasa. All rights reserved.

Mysore Dasara

Dasara Goluvu is celebrated with the at home with the traditional wooden Pattada Bombe couple dolls which is widely available in Tirupati. The usual collection is Dashavathara, Krishna and Gopikas and a huge variety of dolls made of clay and oil painted.

I did not want to miss the tradition and bought these miniature dolls sold at Victoria Market. :)

Bottom Row: L->R 2 Boomerangs in background, Kittens in the basket. 5 crystal elephants, tiny gal with 2 plaits, kitten in basket.
First Row: L->R Japanese Kimmi doll, Guitar, Violin, Guitar, Japanese Kimmi doll
Second Row: L->R Australian Wildlife (Kangaroo and Koala), Didgeridoo, Places in Australia.

Mysore Dasara or rather call Melbourne Dasara or Souvenir Dasara? :)

 © Manasa. All rights reserved.

See you soon!

A few days before of my Melbourne trip got confirmed, a colleague of mine, S~, who is also a good friend got engaged. Initially, we were cubicle mates and in turn became close friends, having breakfast, lunch and snacks together. In fact, we did the shopping together for my trip. Don't ask how many shops and malls we roamed around! Even before she found Mr Nice, she would ask, "Would you turn up for my wedding?" I would pull her leg, "If I don't, who would bless you." ;) S~ got married while I missed the chance of wishing her for new phase of her life and capturing the beautiful moments. While we chat, we speak of meeting each other once we are in Bangalore. But both are sure its just a hope to meet in person. :)

Looking back at my old posts written a couple of years ago, I have hardly met or not met people who were so close to me at office, school or college or even a cousin of mine. We always speak.. if we meet.. we should meet.. when we meet... But when do we meet?

N~, a very good friend during school and who are admired by all of us at school and college passed away. While her little son still thinks she is asleep beneath the ground. It was an 2.8 years ago, I last saw her as a bride, the beautiful innocent face ever since we were in the primary school. Too young to die.


You will be remembered, RIP.

© Manasa. All rights reserved.

Celebrating Ganesh Chathurthi in my own way

Celebrating any festival is now easy.

Don't you worry if you haven't got an idol to worship; for all you have is a wallpaper to be downloaded to your phone or laptop.

1. Downloaded best of Lord Ganesha's wallpaper from Google images.
2. Prepared Hayagreeva adding jaggery, cashew nuts, raisins.
3. Kept only two varieties of fruit and two fruits as an offering.
4. Chanted few sloks and mantras.

The Pooja is over. The fruits and sweet is all yours in the lords name. ;)

© Manasa. All rights reserved.

Life without a friend is like death without a witness

Drafted on 22nd Feb 2011

There were times when I was extremely low. Near and dear ones would try their best to make me smile. Oh, smile! You have even faded away!

Like S~ would crack a joke on how his date was. Others would divert my attention saying...


feeling low..

at what depth?
below sea level?

at ocean level

thats plain.. not low

below ocean level


how are the fish, corals,

are you making fun on me?

below sea there are more creatures than on land.. did you know?
the blue sea... jet blue..
large whales...
beautifully shaped hued fish...
heavenly patterns of corals...
.............



"Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long, 'til I'm going to need somebody to lean on."
- "Lean On Me"

Looking back at times when all near and dear ones stood by me.

© Manasa. All rights reserved.

Bangalore to Melbourne

Susceptible to boredom during my travel in the flight. I had my camera in my hand and clicked few pics. Though, not great, but still are memoirs of the journey from Bengaluru-Malaysia-Melbourne. :)

Finally reached on June 5th. Can't believe its been three months here and I am loving it. ;)

© Manasa. All rights reserved.

The busy street

Its been exactly six weeks I arrived here in Melbourne. As I walk alone on Swanston St, not alone, along with iPhone ;)

There are signals for pedestrians too. Cross the road only when signal is Green or else you will be fined. :)

Trams everywhere

Beethovan Festival ;)

 Tonga types, tram behind

China town. Aah, you find them everywhere. ;)

 Musicians singing and playing guitar roadside.

State Library. You find interesting books here.

Flower shop.

Symmetry

© Manasa. All rights reserved.

Waiting for the tram

I had boarded only the buses and auto rickshaws as a means of transport while at Bangalore. This is the first time I boarded a tram which I used to admire watching the English movies. :) The experience was good. One would find a tram at the Melbourne CBD area every now and then. Unlike, in Bangalore, there are no conductors who would issue a ticket. There are ticket vending machines. You insert a coin or a note. The ticket is generated and you insert them into another machine to validate the ticket and then the timestamp is printed.

Based on the frequency of commuting, one can choose monthly pass, or recharge coupon. Here goes few pics of the tram.